The Authority is the person, thing, idea, etc., that's turning life in the future into a big shit sandwich which everyone is legally compelled to chow down on.
Steam City Saga - I Guess That Push Has Come To This So I Guess This Must Be Shove
Description:
The clocks keep chiming: thirteen, thirteen. The Leader, never thick with revolutionary concepts like 'freedom' and 'pluralism,' has stopped the passage of civil time in response to the Unrest of Steam City. Catastrophe lurks just past our lawn, we're told, and all this is For Our Own Good. It's time to show them what Our Own Good can do for us. Fight the power.
The Man has it coming. Government sent some kind of 'special team' to Kana island, on some kind of secret mission, and now they're missing. Our contacts have gotten us picked for the search and rescue. Now's our chance. I'm sure what they've done to Kana will bring more people to our cause. Fight the power!